Falling Back in Love

Chapter 7

Christine woke up to the steady beep of a heart monitor. Her throat hurt badly and the room was dark but she could tell she was at the base hospital. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she looked for Mike. He wasn't there but that wasn't terribly surprising. He had told the men at the house that they could kill her for all he cared and he did have the girls to take care of. A base hospital was hardly a good place for them. Finally, a nurse appeared at her elbow.

"Good to see you awake. You were worrying us. Don't try to talk too much. You will be on a bit of voice rest for a while. That knife severed a vocal cord." The nurse explained as she checked Christine's IV.

"My husband and kids?" Christine asked.

"He took them to get lunch. I'll call him. He asked that we did if you woke up. Now, just rest." The nurse ordered before leaving Christine again. Christine could only close her eyes, falling back asleep quickly.

By the time she woke up, the room was brighter and she could hear Hannah and Kaitlyn's voices, as well as Mike's. She could also hear Eden crying. It was her hungry cry.

"Kaitlyn, how many ounces is she drinking? I gave her two ounces earlier and I don't think she got her fill." Mike asked. Kaitlyn only groaned in response. She was apparently still angry at Mike.

"Four…ounces." Christine rasped out. Mike immediately appeared in her line of vision. He was holding Eden, who was letting her opinion be known.

"Hey, you're awake. The nurse said for you to take it easy on that voice." Mike told her in a cheery voice.

"She told me. Make sure you burp her good. She holds them in. Makes her fussy." Christine whispered.

"Ah, that explains it. She's been fussy since I gave her her first bottle. I thought she didn't know me." Mike explained. Hannah had also appeared in Christine's line of vision with a happy smile.

"How are you feeling, Momma?" Hannah asked.

"Sore…tired. When can I go home?" Christine asked Mike.

"They want you to stay tonight. There was a lot of damage. The initial cut was superficial but the end of the blade did a lot of damage. Severed vocal cord, your jugular took a beating and you lost an incredible amount of blood. You will also be on a soft diet for a week." Mike explained.

"Daddy said he would make you a strawberry shake!" Hannah said excitedly. Probably more because she hoped Mike would make her one too. Mike made the best milkshakes.

"Once we get home, yes." Mike said. He had put Eden in a car seat which only upset her further and began mixing her bottle.

"Mike, she hates the car seat. I suspect they kept her in it all the time before I got her." Christine explained in a low voice.

"Oh." Mike answered as he finished the bottle, picked Eden back up and popped the nipple in her mouth. Eden still looked miserable but at least took her bottle happily. Christine wished they had gotten a better introduction. Eden must be so scared.

"I wish I could go home tonight." Christine remarked.

"Yeah, me too." Kaitlyn said from her spot on the couch. Christine noticed Mike roll his eyes. Apparently, they were fighting.

"Its just one night. Gives you a break." Mike answered Christine all while giving Kaitlyn a look.

"Daddy, can we go to the vending machine?" Hannah asked. Christine was shocked that there was even food in the vending machine.

"Yeah. Here?" Mike said as he gave her a couple dollars and gestured at Kaitlyn to go with her, earning another groan. Christine heard them leave the room and settled back into her pillows. "That girl. She has a serious attitude." Mike said as he sat down next to Christine's bed.

"Been through a lot. Being faced with a result of one of our affairs really bothered her. We've always been able to keep them from the kids. She doesn't realize that I was having my own." Christine explained quietly.

"True. She won't have much to do with Eden." Mike remarked.

"She's also scared that now that you have her; Kaitlyn and Hannah won't matter." Christine explained in a whisper.

"I don't even know what to say to that." Mike said.

"Once I get home, you can spend time with them. How did you get there?" Christine asked.

"We found the address in Allison Shaw's planner. She had sent her henchmen to ransack the house, thinking you and the kids would be gone. When you weren't, it threw a wrench in their plans but they were improvising. We were almost too late. They would have raped and killed you." Mike explained.

"Not like it would have bothered you. You said as much." Christine responded. It was out of her mouth before she could stop it. She was trying to be more careful in her responses with Mike. Partly because of Eden and partly because she still loved Mike. She wanted him back and she was worried about what would happen to Eden.

"I got there, didn't I?" Mike answered.

"Yeah, thanks. Sorry, I'm getting tired." Christine answered.

"Soon as she gets done; I'll collect the girls and get out of here. I'll come back in the morning to get you." Mike assured her.

"How long are you home?" Christine asked.

"I don't know. There's been a lot of fall out from Shaw. I will probably be in a land position for a while." Mike explained.

"And when you deploy, what happens to her?" Christine asked, pointing at the baby girl in Mike's arms.

"I don't know. Still trying to figure all this out. I just don't want you to think taking care of her will get us back together." Mike said, but before Christine could respond, the girls came back in and Eden finished her bottle.

After a few hugs and kisses, Mike and the girls left and Christine laid in bed, remembering happier times when she and Mike didn't take jabs at each other. Could they ever get back there? Was it even worth fighting for? Maybe she should just cut her losses. The problem was, she still loved Mike and she loved Eden, as much as she loved her own kids.

The next morning, after drinking and choking on a protein shake, being assessed by her doctor and having the drain line taken out, Mike showed up alone. He had a bag in his hand with clothes for her, apparently planning on the nurse helping her get dressed. Problem was, the nurse was busy. Mike ended up having to help her dress; something Christine could have done without. At least he was in a good mood.

"Thanks for bringing the button-up shirt. It helps." Christine said as she tried to button the shirt. She couldn't look down and Mike began buttoning her shirt for her. He had brought one of his own so she was plenty comfortable.

"Well, no fashion statements. You ready for the sweats?" Mike asked and she nodded. She had to lean on him for support as he helped her pull them up. He also had to help her put her socks and shoes on and comb her hair.

"I'm ready to go home. I must look terrible." Christine remarked.

"Well, on a scale of one to ten, ten being the best; I would say you're about a two. A one is dead. You were circling the drain when we got you here." Mike explained.

"The kids must have been so scared." Christine said as Mike helped her up and then sat her back down in the wheelchair.

"They were. They didn't see any of the blood or anything. Didn't see you until you were stitched up and had bandages on. You had to have a blood transfusion." Mike explained.

"There's blood banks open?" Christine asked. Mike was rolling her out of the hospital room and into the hallway.

"No, it was a targeted donation. I donated. Full disclosure, after the donations when I was a POW, I hope I'm clean. I…didn't disclose that part to the doctor. I was the only universal donor and you would have died without it." Mike told her.

"Thanks…I think. Donations when you were a POW?" Christine asked.

"Yeah, it's a bit hard to explain but the reason we were held hostage was because the cure wasn't working due to biological warfare but a cured person's blood bought Takehaya time. I was his donor. He turned around and helped us, but I must admit, I preferred giving you the blood. It was a bit more sanitary." Mike joked.

"Geez, Mike. Are…you okay?" Christine asked. They had gotten to the first floor after the nurse handed Christine her medications and Mike helped her out of the wheelchair.

"I'm still processing. Don't really have time to not be okay." Mike answered. He had her hand tucked into his elbow and his other hand on the small of her back.

"Are they going to make you talk to a counselor?" Christine asked. Like any military spouse, she knew the drill. Only now, the drill had changed.

"I suppose, if they can find one; otherwise, I'll just have to sort it out. Alright, here we are." Mike said as he unlocked her SUV and helped her into the front passenger seat.

"I know I'm not a counselor and I have never cared much, but if you need to talk, I'm here." Christine said as she patted Mike's arm.

"Thanks. Now, voice rest for you, young lady." Mike ordered and Christine nodded.

"Not so young anymore." Christine teased.

"Did you want me to say old lady?" Mike teased back as he started the SUV.

"No. Did you leave Kaitlyn responsible for Eden?" Christine asked.

"Oh, Lord no. I think she would have smothered her. Debbie got back last night and she's with them. Kaitlyn wouldn't leave her room while I was there." Mike admitted.

"She's having trouble adjusting. I think she feels threatened." Christine said. It bothered her that Mike thought his daughter would hurt a defenseless baby but she would deal with it later.

"I know. Voice rest?" Mike said, more as a tactic to shut her up. He didn't want to talk about his relationship with their oldest daughter.

The rest of the drive home was made in silence and Mike had to help Christine out of truck and up the porch steps. Debbie met them at the front door with a much happier Eden. The baby gave Christine a huge smile and lunged for her. Christine didn't trust her own footing but wanted to hold the baby.

"While I'm here, I can help you take a shower?" Debbie asked Christine.

"I do really need to get cleaned up." Christine said quietly. Mike had taken Eden, who immediately began crying.

"Let's get up there, and then little miss grumpy pants can have you to herself." Debbie teased as she helped Christine up the stairs. Mike was at the foot of them, watching to make sure they got up them safely. Eden was crying miserably. Debbie guided Christine into the master bedroom and she immediately noticed that the bed looked slept in, meaning Mike had slept in there, making it easier to care for Eden. Debbie grabbed a nightgown and the bag of bandages that Mike handed her and followed Christine into the large bathroom.

"Thank God for walk-in showers with benches." Christine remarked. Mike's shaving kit, toothbrush, toothpaste, cologne and comb were on the vanity.

"Yeah, no kidding. So, Mike doesn't put his stuff away?" Debbie asked as Christine took her clothes off and stepped into the shower. Christine had to admit; the water felt so good.

"No. He is a bit of a slob." Christine remarked. Before it was something that irritated her to no end, now it reminded her of when they were newlyweds and she had thought it was cute.

"No man is perfect." Debbie remarked.

"Exactly. You know, before when we were fighting, I hated it. Now, I miss it. I imagine he'll move into the other bedroom tonight though. Not sure where he'll put Eden though. I suppose I could offer to sleep in his room." Christine mentioned, even though she desperately wanted to sleep in her own bed. Course, she wouldn't mind Mike sharing her bed.

"I think you'll work things out. Just be patient with him. He's been hurt. You have to show him you're different and I think he'll see it in how you love Eden." Debbie said as Christine shut the shower off. She had washed her hair carefully and felt a hundred percent better. She could hear Eden crying downstairs and Mike trying to comfort her.

"I wish I was so sure. I have to say; I feel a lot better. Once I get into bed, I'd like to see if I can settle Eden down, which might settle Kaitlyn down." Christine said as she got out of the shower, already in her nightgown.

"Want me to do something with that hair? Maybe a braid?" Debbie asked.

"Yeah, if you don't care." Christine said as she handed her a brush and hair tie. She didn't like being so dependent on anyone, but Debbie was better than Mike. Debbie quickly braided Christine's hair and helped her into the bed. Hannah had appeared with a strawberry shake in hand and Mike followed her with Eden in his arms and a bottle in hand.

"I'm hoping you can calm her down if you're up to it?" Mike asked and Christine nodded. Mike settled Eden into Christine's arms and gave her the bottle. The shake was put on the nightstand and Hannah cuddled up to Christine's side. Eden immediately took the bottle and gave a few smiles around the nipple.

"Christine, I'll come by tomorrow morning and help you get ready. Mike, if you need help with her or the kids, call me. That includes the disgruntled teenager. There's a taco salad in the fridge. You can put it in the microwave to take the chill off. Its fairly soft too so Christine can eat it." Debbie said as she leaned down and gave Christine a hug and patted Mike's arm.

"Thank you." Mike told her warmly.

"Yes, thank you." Christine said before Debbie left. Hannah had fallen asleep next to Christine and Eden was well on her way.

"She really likes you." Mike said, pointing at the baby.

"She'll get used to you. I had wished you would have a better introduction to her but it couldn't be helped. I may need you to either position her for me to burp her or burp her yourself." Christine asked.

"I can burp her." Mike said.

"So, now that you're home; what's the plan? BOQ still?" Christine asked.

"I don't know. I can't have an infant in the BOQ and then if I deploy, since I'll essentially be a single parent to her; she'll end up in foster care. There would have been options before but now; not so much. And I can't opt out of a deployment. I'm kind of at a loss. With the girls, they have you. While I don't want to leave them, I know you will take care of them. I can't expect that of you or anyone." Mike said as he sat down on the end of the bed. Christine could tell it bothered him a lot.

"Mike, I am not saying this as a way to get back with you, even though I do want that. I will take care of Eden. I love this little girl and I know that isn't normal but I do. Its an offer and I hope a better option then foster care." Christine said quietly.

"I do appreciate that. Let me think about it. I will be on shore duty for awhile anyway. It will give me time to evaluate, but I am going to need help with her and she seems to hate everybody but you, Hannah and Debbie." Mike joked.

"She does have your personality." Christine teased.

"Gee, thanks. Alright, I think she's done." Mike said as he stood up, put a burp clothe over his shoulder, bent down to get the baby and kissed Christine on the forehead. It surprised her and was hardly what she wanted, but there was something incredibly sweet about it. Maybe there was a glimmer of hope.